Machine and process for coating fabric or cloth with porous paper pulp



April 19, 1932. L. E. MlLKEY- 1,854,414

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR COATING FABRIC OR CLOTH WITH POROUS PAPER PULP Filed May 14, 1928 'Les'rgr E I Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESTER- E. MILKEY, OF SANI DUSKY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CELLULO COMPANY, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR COATING FABRIC OR CLOTH WITH POROUS PAPER PULP Application filed May 14, 1928.

One object of my inventionis to provide a novel machine particularly adapted for coatv ing fabric or cloth with porous paper pulp, the finished material being of combined fabric and paper pulp construction and substantially homogeneous.

I attain this and other objects of my invention by themechanism illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the coating machine;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of a portion of the paper pulp coated fabric produced by the machine.

Like numerals indicate like parts ineach of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I provide a suitable frame work 1, having a saveall tank 2 in which is mounted a wire mesh covered cylinder 7 and adjacent, a paper pulp flow box 3 to which paper pulp in a thin liquid consistency is supplied through the pipe 9. A flexible apron cloth6 extend-s between the edge of the flow box 3 and the uncoated fabric passing over the wire mesh covered cylinder 7, to form a seal and pre-.

' yent leakage of pulp. Similar seals are used .on the ends of the flow box also. The water draining through the fabric and cylinder 7 is caught in saveall tank 2 and passes out through opening 5 to be reused in the flow box ,3. A suitable opening 8 is provided for the entrance of the uncoated fabric orcloth.

Upon press roll 12 is provided with means 13 for exerting an adjustable pressure against bottom press roll 11. Although but one pair of press rolls is shown, additional .sets of.

press rolls may be used. The press rolls may or may not be mechanically driven.

I provide a roll of suitable fabric or cloth 16 which in unwinding passes between the press rolls 11' and 12, over the several guide rolls 18 in the direction indicated by the arrows, and thence through opening 8 and around roll 19, and then against and around a portion of the circumference of wiremesh covered cylinder 7 where the paper pulp is deposited in an even layer by the action of the water Serial No. 277,756.

draining outthrough the meshes of the fabric and wire covered cylinder, as the latter rotates. This paper pulp coating is indicated by the numeral 20 in Figs. 3 and 1. The coated fabricthen passes over suction boxes 15 for the removal of additional water and to help draw the paper pulp down into the meshes of the fabric, and thence over roll 17 where contact is made with the dry fabric being unrolled from roll 16. The pulp coated fabric is thus covered over with the dry uncoated fabric continuously and before it passes through the press rolls 11 and 12.

Issuing from the press rolls, the coated fabric still covered by the uncoated fabric, passes around the guide roll 18, where the uncoated fabric separates as shown and the coated fabric, now partially dewatered,

' continues on alone over roll 21 and around steam heated drying cylinder 14 and over another guide roll 22 and thence to suitable vwinding mechanism, not shown, but of con- Ventional type.

As shown in Fig. 1, the roll of dry uncoated fabric is positioned so that in. unwinding this dry fabric is brought into contact on top of the coated fabric before the latter passesthrough the press rolls 11 and 12. The purpose of this novel arrangement and operation is threefold:

. First, the dry fabric continuously absorbs moisture from the wet coated fabric and thus assists in drying the latter;

Secondly, the top uncoated fabric in going through the press rolls and by being brought out over the first of the guide' rolls 18, as

shown in Fig. 1, in contact with the coated fabric before 'it is separated therefrom, prevents the paper pulp from adhering or stick-, ing to the top press roll and thus being drawn away from the fabric upon which it has been deposited and with which it is desired to become substantially an integral part of. Were not this fabric between the paper pulp coating and the surface of the press roll, the pulp coating would be torn away from its accompanying fabric because the surface of the press roll has a greater affinity for the paper pulp while wet than has its accompanying fabric.

Thirdly, in having the uncoated fabric pass continuously 'over and in contact with the coated fabric as shown, it serves the purpose of a conventional water removing felt which might otherwise be necessary to prevent the paper pulp coating from crushing in the pressing operation between the press rolls l1 and 12. The machine is thus greatly simplified and heavier pressing to extract more moisture before the coated fabric passes to the steam dryer 14 for the evaporation of the remaining moisture is permitted.

While the general process of depositing the paper pulp in my machine is similar to that employed in the conventional paper making machines it distinctly differs in that in my machine the fabric itself performsthe function of the usual wire mesh screen and as the pulp is deposited directly upon it to become an integral and permanent part of it, the wire covered cylinder shown merely acts as a backing or supporting surface for the sheet of fabric coming from roll 16. Also in my machine the fabric itself supplies its own means for hastening the water removal from the coated fabric. This novel arrangement greatly simplifies the machine and operation. It is understood, of course, that while the process is continuous, the roll of fabric 16 must be replaced with a new one when it is completely unwound or the machine itself might be used in conjunction withthe fabric weaving machine to make an uninterrupted operation of the weaving and coating.

To summarize, I have disclosed a machine and process for making) continuously a paper pulp coated fabric y depositing a thin layer or coating of suitable paper pulp onto and into a coarse mesh fabric in such a novel way as to have the paper pulp become a permanent and substantially integral part of the finished material. Suction and pressure are employed as shown to draw and press the paper pulp into the meshesof the fabric and to further increase the bond between the two and to produce a unified finished material when it is finally dryed by moisture evaporation on the steam drying cylinder or other means. The finished material of combined paper pulp and fabric construction is then put to various uses among them the making of air filtering bags for vacuum cleaners. I

Although I have disclosed a preferred manner of carrying out the invention, it will be obvious to'those skilled in the art that the particular embodiment of my invention here-' in shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and it therefore will be understood that-the disclosure herein .is illustrative only, and that my invention is-not limited thereto. 7

WhatIclaimis: 1 1. In a machine for coating fabric with paper pulp, the combination of a supply of suitable fabric preferablyin roll form, means paper pulp continuously thereon, means for subsequently passing the coated fabric through press rolls while a portion of the uncoated fabric is in contact with the coated fabric, and means for drying the coated fabric by moisture evaporation. I

3. In a machine for coating fabric with paper pulp, the combination of a supply of fabric to be coated, means for depositing a continuous coating of wet paper pulp onto said fabric, means for bringing a portion of the uncoated fabric over and into contact with the coated fabric before they together pass through the press rolls, and means whereby theuncoated fabric travels to the coating end of the machine after leaving the coated fabric, and other means whereby the coated fabric travels to the drying end of the machine.

4. The process of continuously coating'fabric with wet porous paper pulp consisting in enmeshing the paper pulp with the fabric so as to become substantially a permanent and integral part of it, and employing the uncoated portion of the fabric as a water reprevent the paper pulp coatin from coming into contact with any surface prior to moisture evaporation.

5. In a machine of the character described:

- moving means to accomplish that end and to means for moving a web of mesh material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and" arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; and means for permanently fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a u coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the entire support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means.

a 6. In a machine of the character described: 1

means for moving a web of mesh material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and arranged to deliver pulponto said mesh ma- 1 terial; and means for permanently fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a coat.- ing for said mesh material, comprising suction means for drawing moisture from said pulp; said mesh material serving as the enranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; and means for permanently fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material, comprising compression means for compressing said pulp with and to said material; said mesh material serving as the entire support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixingmeans.

8. Ina machine of the character described: means for moving a web of mesh material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and 'arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; and means for permanently fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material, including suc-- tion means for. drawing moisture from said pulp, and compression means for compressing said pulp with and to said material; said mesh material serving as the entire support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means. I j q 9. In a machine of the character described:

compressing means; means for coacting a material with pulp; means for advancing said material through said compressing means;

and means for temporarily interposing a layer of material between the exposed said material and pulp coating are passing therethrough.

10. In a .machine of the character described: compressing means; means for coating a material with pulp; means for advancing said material through said compressing means; and means for interposing a preliminary pass of said material between the exposed face of the pulp and the compressing means when said material and pulp coating are passing therethrough.

11. In a machine of the character described means for moving a supporting mesh to which pulp is to be permanently alfixed along a predetermined path; pulp supply "means arranged to deliver, wet pulp onto said mesh; and means including a reticulated roll for draining said pulp through said mesh while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh.

12. In a machine of the character described: means for moving a supporting mesh to which pulp is to be permanently afiixed along a predetermined path; pulp supply.

means arranged to deliver wet pulp onto said mesh; and means for draining said pulp while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to. said mesh, said means including areticulated roll through which drainace of the pulp and the compressing means when:

arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; means for fixing said pulp on said mesh materialto form a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as-the support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means; and means for draining moisture from said pulp through said mesh material while said pulplies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh material.

14. In a machine of the character de-' scribed means for moving a web of mesh material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and ar ranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; means for fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixmg means; and means for draining moisture from said pulp through said mesh material while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh material, said means including'a reticulated roll through which drainage may take place.

15. In a machine of the character described: means for moving a web of mesh to which pulp is to be permanently afiixed material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; means for fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form, a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the entire support for saidpulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means; and means for drawing moisture from said pulp through said mesh material while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh material, said means including suction means and draining means.

16. In a machine of the character described: means for moving a web of mesh to which pulp is to be permanently afiixed material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; and means, including compression means, for fixing said pulp on. said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the entire support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means; and means for draining moisture from said pulp through said mesh material while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh materia 17 In a machine of the character de-* scribed: meansfor moving a Web of mesh material along a predetermined path; pulp supply means located adjacent said path and arranged to deliver pulp onto said mesh material; means including suction and compress1on meanspfor fixing said pulp on sald mesh material to form'a coating for-said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means; and means for 7 material along a predetermined path; pulp said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material servmg supply means located adjacent said path for evenly applying pulp onto said mesh material substantially quiescent relative to said material; and means for fixing said pulp on as the entire support for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means.

19. In amachine of the character described: means for moving a web of mesh to which pulp is to be permanently afiixed material along a predetermined path; pulp. supply means located adjacent said path for evenly applying pulp onto said mesh material substantially -quiescent relative to said mesh material; means for fixing said pulp on said mesh material to form a coating for said mesh material; said mesh material serving as the entire support-for said pulp from said pulp supply means to said fixing means; and means for draining said pulp through said mesh material while said pulp lies substantially quiescent with respect to said mesh material. i,

20. The process of combining pulp with a mesh material, which comprises: depositing pulp on said mesh material; supporting said pulp entirely by said meshmaterial; and then fixing said pulp. on and to said mesh material while so supported;

21. The process of combining pulp with a mesh material, which comprises: depositing pulp on said mesh material; supporting said pulp in substantially quiescent condition entirely on and by said mesh material; and then material-by suction and compression while so supported. 4 t v 24. The process of combining pulp with a mesh material, which comprises: depositing pulp on said mesh material; and then com pressing said pulp and material, to fix said pulp on and to said material, with a layer of material temporarily interposed between the compressing means and the exposed face of said pulp.

25. The process of combining pulp with a mesh material, which comprises: depositing pulp on said mesh material; and then compressing said pulp and material, to fix said pulp on and to said material, with a layer of the same material interposed between the compressing means and the exposed face of said pulp.

LESTER E. MILKEY.

fixing said pulp on and to said-meshmaterial mesh material, which comprises: depositingpulp on said mesh material; supporting said pulp entirely by said mesh material; and then fixing said pulp on and to said'mesh material 

